Amsterdam-based architectural practice, Studioninedots, has designed the Villa Kavel 1 project. Completed in 2014, the contemporary residence is located on the tip of an island close to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
According to the architect: “On the tip of an island near Amsterdam lies a mysterious black box. This is the house that Studioninedots built for a young family – a house full of surprises and contrasts. A house with dynamic spatial and material qualities: from an unlimited space with panoramic views of nature to private rooms hidden behind a veil of shutters, from sleek custom furniture against a raw concrete structure to warm timber paired with cold steel. Light and views were key elements of this design.
“Situated directly on the waterfront with unobstructed views of the opposite park, Kavel 01 (meaning lot 01) is what you could call a dream site. But one that posed a tough challenge: how do we build a spacious, liveable home on a sharp diamond-shaped plot on this most beautiful part on the island?
“It seemed impractical to combine a simple rectangular volume with an angular plot with sharp angles of 51 degrees – and also did little justice to its unique form – so we based the design of the house on the shape of a diamond. On the north side, the volume is pushed towards the tip of the island thereby extending the south-west elevation; this maximises sun into the house and views over the park emphasising the relationship between inside and outside. As the glazing on the facade moves inwards from the western corner, this accentuates the feeling of openness on the ground floor. At the same time, this creates a covered terrace, which is protected from the wind. Lastly, the layout of the garden was optimised to accommodate different private terraces and a separate car park.
“Due to height restrictions, the contemporary house is partly built underground. This ‘secret’ domain contains the guest room, bathroom, storage, study, and children’s games room and cinema. Along the south facade, the ground is carved out to permit sunlight into the basement; from below, this opens up views over the garden. This intervention transforms the appearance of the volume dramatically: from here the house seems to float above the ground. A set of stairs provides separate access to this part of the house from the outside.”
Images courtesy of Peter Cuypers
